The European Commission has ordered Meta to restore free access to WhatsApp for rival AI assistants while it continues an antitrust investigation into the company’s practices.
The decision is part of the Commission’s anti-competition investigation against Meta, which centres on changes the company introduced to WhatsApp Business in late 2025.
According to the Commission, Meta updated its WhatsApp Business terms in October 2025, preventing third-party general-purpose AI assistants from accessing the platform. The changes took effect in January 2026, leaving Meta AI as the only AI assistant available through WhatsApp.
European regulators argued that WhatsApp represents an important route for AI providers to reach consumers. They believe Meta’s restrictions risk limiting competition and making it harder for rival AI companies to grow.
The Commission opened a formal investigation in December 2025 before issuing a Statement of Objections earlier this year. Regulators subsequently warned Meta that interim measures might be necessary to prevent what they described as serious and irreparable harm to competition while the wider investigation remains ongoing.
Under the new order, Meta must reinstate access for third-party AI assistants through the WhatsApp Business Application Programming Interface (API) under the same terms that existed before October 2025, when access was available free of charge.
The Commission said Meta later revised its policy in March 2026 and allowed rival AI assistants back onto WhatsApp. However, regulators claim the new fees introduced by the company effectively created the same barriers as the original ban.
The interim measures require Meta to maintain free access for competitors until the Commission reaches a final decision in the case. The company has five working days to comply.
The Commission’s preliminary findings state that Meta appears to hold a dominant position in the European Economic Area market for consumer communication applications through WhatsApp.
Regulators also stated that the company may have abused that position by restricting access to infrastructure that had previously been available to third parties.
“In rapidly evolving markets, competition can be lost long before a final decision is adopted,” said Teresa Ribera, executive vice-president for clean, just and competitive transition at the European Commission. “This is why these interim measures will remain in place for the duration of the investigation, in order to prevent harm that would be almost impossible to repair.”
Ribera added the measures would help preserve competition in the AI assistant market by maintaining access to WhatsApp, which she described as a key route for reaching European consumers.
The Commission has not yet reached a final conclusion on whether Meta breached competition law. Its broader investigation into the company’s conduct remains ongoing, with no deadline set for a final decision.
If the Commission ultimately finds that Meta violated EU antitrust rules, the company could face further enforcement action. Regulators also have the power to impose penalties if Meta fails to comply with the interim measures order.
